The laboratory studies mucosal immunity and focuses on several pathways that are especially relevant to the physiologic processes and diseases related to these compartments. As such, the laboratory has a particular interest in the manner in which aberrations of these physiologic processes lead to the development of inflammation, the management of the luminal microbial ecology, intestinal barrier dysfunction and cancer, among others.

The laboratory has four major areas of interest:(1) Characterization of the neonatal MHC class I-related Fc receptor (FcRn) in epithelial cells and dendritic cells; (2) understanding carcinoembryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) as a regulatory molecule on T and NK cells; (3) determining the role of the nonclassical MHC class I-related molecule, CD1d, and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein in mucosal immunity; and (4) evaluation of ER stress pathways in intestinal inflammation.